Store-counter.



R. D. RALSTON.

STORE COUNTER.

APPLICATION nun arm. 26, 1910.

988,594. Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Inventor;

y I r I Attor'heys IHI NoRRIs rlrlna cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

ROBERT D. RALSTON, OF WILSCOT, GEORGIA.

STORE COUNTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4:, 1911.

Application filed September 26, 1910. Serial No. 583,960.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. RALSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at W'ilscot, in the county of Fannin and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful StoreCounter, of which the following is a Specification.

It isthe object of this invention to provide a counter, having in its top a plurality of lids, these lids constituting at once a portion of the top of the counter, and closures for a series of receptacles disposed beneath the counter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter having a lid in its top, the lid being connected with a receptacle, disposed within the counter, whereby the tilting of the lid may be limited, the lid acting as a lever to tilt the receptacle, upon a projecting portion of the counter as fulcrum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure "1 is a rear elevation; Fig. 2 is a top plan; and Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections upon the line A-B of Fig. 1, showing the movable elements of the structure in their different positions.

The counter consists of a bottom 1, which, if desired, may be the floor of the apartment in which the device is positioned. Fixed to andrising from the bottom 1 are end walls 2. Intermediate walls 3 are secured to the bottom 1 between the end walls 2. These several walls 2 and 3 are connected by front walls 4 which extend downwardly from the top of the counter but a short distance, so that the counter is open upon its forward side between the walls 2 and 3. Between the walls 3, that is, in the central portion of the counter, the front wall is carried clownwardly into contact with the bottom 1, as denoted by the numeral 5 in Fig. 1.

Along the forward edge of the counter, and to the rear of the front walls 1, fixed top portions 6 are disposed. These top portions 6 do not extend the entire width of the counter. The fixed top portions 6 are upheld by cleats 7 which project rearwardly beyond the top portions 6. Disposed between the top portions 6 and in a common plane therewith is a top plate 8, supported upon the intermediate walls 3. This top plate 8 represents the full width of the counter, and beneath it, between the walls 3, a plurality of drawers 9 may be placed. Upon the top plate 8, weighing scales (not shown) may be placed.

A plurality of lids 10 are shown, these lids 10 being hinged as at 11 to the fixed top portions 6 of the counter. The cleats 7 are recessed upon their rear faces, as shown at 21. Resting upon the cleats 7 and abutting against the top portions 6 of the counter are bars 12 constituting projections which outstand rearwardly, over the recesses 21. The lower faces of the lids 10 are cut-away as shown at 14 to receive these projections 12. The lower surfaces of the lids 10 are covered with facings 15, preferably fashioned from rubber.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the rear portion of the counter is open, so that receptacles 16, ordinarily barrels, may be mounted beneath the lids 10, the receptacles fitting into the recesses 21 and the projections 12 overhangingthe forward edges of the receptacles 16 as seen to best advantage in Fig.3. The lids 10,when in closed position, constitute a part of the top of the counter, the lids likewise resting upon the open upper ends of the receptacles l6 and serving as closures therefor, the resilient facings 15 of the lids 10 sealing the receptacles 16 closely. The ends of a flexible element 17 ordinarily a cord or chain, are secured in any desired manner as at 19 to oppositely disposed points upon each of the receptacles 16, the intermediate portion of the flexible element 17 being passed through an eye 18 or the like, inserted into the lower face of the lid 10. lVhen the lid 10 is swung into an open position, the flexible element 17 being connected with the receptacle 16, will prevent the lid 10 from tilting too far toward the front of the counter.

When the contents of the receptacle 16 have been removed to a considerable extent, so that there is but a small amount left in the receptacle, the operation of removing the residue of the contents of the receptacle is a matter of considerable difliculty. Referring, however, to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the lid 10 may be employed as a lever to tilt the receptacle into the inclined position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4L, the

upper edge of the receptacle being engaged the receptacle may readily be scraped or scooped;

By referring to Fig. 3note that a considerable amount of space exists asshown at 20 between the receptacle l6 and the for- Ward'face of the counter. Inthis'space 20,

anothersmall receptacle, such, for example,

asa'box of soap, ora keg of nails may be placed;

The construction of the device'issuch' that-i the-shop-keepen standing behind the counter Will have access to his goods-by simply raising one ofthe lids 10, there being no occasion for his passing from behindthecounter to: gain access to a remote barrel.-

The contentsof the receptacles 16 are*pro'- tected, in the' device of my invention, and continually under the shopkeepers eye, While-- The receptacles he is behind the counter.

are closed by means of the lids 10, Which said lids also constitutea part of the top of the counter, and by manipulating these lids, ashereinbefore described, and as shown in .Fig. 4, the receptacles may be tilted to remove the last vestige of their contents.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is 1- A counter having a fixed top; a lid hinged to the top; and a removable receptacledisposed beneath the lid, the lid constituting at once a closure forthe receptacle and a COIltlIlLIELtlOlL of the top,-there be1ng projection outstanding from the top i and overhanging the upperedge" of the receptacle; and a flexible element unitingthe lidand the receptacle to :limit the tilting of the lid,

the lid constituting a: lever to tilt-the recep tacle upon the projectiom as a fulcrum.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixe'd mysignature in the presence of two Witnesses.-

ROBERT'" D; RALSTON'.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK ANDERSON,

W; ANDERSONi Gopiesofithimpatent may be obtained'for five cents each, byaddressingithe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

